Maggie Creamer, PhD, is exploring if pain in dogs may reach beyond mobility, shaping how a dog thinks, learns, and experiences the world. A dog who seems less interested, struggles to learn something new or begins behaving differently may be communicating more than we realize, says Creamer.
In people, chronic pain can interfere with everyday cognitive functioning and ability to focus. It is also frequently associated with anxiety and depression. Creamer wants to understand whether dogs living with pain experience similar changes in cognition and emotional state. Her study uses five tests to examine cognition, persistence, flexibility, judgment, and emotional state.
Source: AKC Canine Health Foundation, August 11, 2026. Link. Cramer’s research is supported by the AKC Canine Health Foundation.
INSIGHTS: The results of this research may be helpful to boarding, daycare and grooming businesses as well as veterinary teams.
Image: Link.
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